By: Larry Jewett
10/23/2010
A five division program under a full moon went off without a major hitch as a few drivers took giant steps in their quest for the 2010 track championships. Feature winners were Travis Varnadore (Racecar Engineering Late Models), Billy Howard (Outlaw 4s), Eric Moon (Precision Kia Street Stocks), Michael Eaton (motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers) and Evan Page (Micros/Gadgets).
Howard moved out to his sixth win of the season in dominating fashion during the Outlaw 4 main. Howard won his heat, then had to deal with point leader Matthew Haynes during the main. Haynes encountered mechanical problems and fell back in the event, giving Howard some breathing room. Chris Zimmerman mounted the next challenge, but settled for second. Heat winner Stephen Hohlbaugh rebounded from an early race incident for third with Brittany Yates and Haynes rounding out the top five.
Doug Watson held the early lead in the Racecar Engineering 25-lap main. Watson ran solid lines through the early stages, only to be overtaken on lap 14 by Travis Varnadore. Once out front, Varnadore pulled out, giving everyone a view of his spoiler. Point leader Bryan Bernhardt gave chase, but settled for second. David Schmauss ran a steady contest for third with Watson and early challenger Perry Brown inside the top five. Varnadore and Brown captured heats.
Eric Moon finished second in his heat race, but learned a bit that came into play in the 15-lap Precision Kia Street Stock feature. Moon shot to the front from his fourth starting spot and had a host of challengers try to sneak by. Point leader Donnie Reed gave it the best shot, ending up second. Thomas Pratt grabbed third with James Hook making a late race charge to fourth. Collin Kruse rounded out the top five. Heats went to Reed and Pratt.
A field of 32 motorstats.com 4 Cylinder bombers brought the need for a consy and a main. Three heats, won by Thomas Burnside, Jimmy Williams and Michael Eaton, put these three drivers into the front row of the A and qualified six others in each event. The 12-lap consy was won by Robert Purcell. The A main started with Williams in command. Eaton was able to slip by and stretch out a good-sized lead. The competition for the remaining spots was intense as Raymond Vann bypassed Burnside to claim second. Mike Lacey came from deep in the field to claim fifth, finishing behind Matthew Odell. Eaton’s win was his second of the season.
Evan Page sped past the field to cross the line ahead of his father, second finishing Ivan Page, in the 12-lap battle of the Micro Spints/Gadgets. The outcome reversed the previous East Bay visit when Ivan Page defeated his son.
ASA sanctioned racing returns to East Bay Raceway Park on Saturday, October 30, 2010. Racecar Engineering Late Models, East Bay Sprints, Precision Kia Street Stocks, Outlaw 4s and motorstats.com 4 cylinder Bombers make up the card. For more information, go to www.eastbayracewaypark.com or call the track office.